Tyrone Area High School 2013 alum and Point Park University senior Emily Jamison is working to bring the warmth of new coats and blankets to the homeless in Pittsburgh.

Jamison is the co-chair of the Confluence Psychology Alliance student group at Point Park University in Downtown Pittsburgh where she is pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. As co-chair, she is responsible for organizing the group’s annual blanket and coat drive for the homeless.

¨The Blanket and Coat Drive has been around since Confluence first started 10 years ago,” said Jamison, ¨Point Park’s psychology department has been very involved in community work. The issue of homelessness is pretty pervasive in downtown Pittsburgh. I think the drive is one of the simplest and most immediately effective ways to contribute.¨

Emily first got involved in Confluence when one of her professors Dr. Bob McInerney mentioned it in her PSYC 150 class. Emily decided to reach out when he said he was looking for people looking to take on the governing board.

Recently switching majors from business to psychology, Jamison wanted to be more involved with the field and thought being a part of the Confluence Alliance would help her succeed in the field.

Some of Emily’s responsibilities as co-chair member consist of administrative things such as filling out room request forms correctly, budgeting, and encouraging involvement of other club members. ¨Confluence has a decentralized government, so no one person is really in charge. We all work together to make everything happen,¨ said Jamison.

Emily will graduate from Point Park University this April so her role with Confluence will soon come to an end. Looking forward to March, Confluence is co-hosting an Intersectional Feminist panel with the Free Imagination Leaders Collective. After that, Emily hopes Confluence continues to make a difference in the community.

According to Jamison, being a part of Confluence has made a real impact on her university experience. The most important part of being involved with Confluence is the people she’s met and all the work they’ve been able to complete together.

¨If going to university is the right choice for you, make the most of it and get involved! It really does make a big impact on your four years,¨ said Jamison.